It's another busy week in new openings, with high-end seafood, the return of a classic French restaurant, the arrival of a New York powerhouse and lots more besides...
Lillibet's
Mayfair - 17 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QB
This seafood restaurant in Mayfair sees ex-Bone Daddies founder Ross Shonhan going back to his fine-dining roots (he was previously executive chef at Nobu and Zuma). Opening in a building that was the Queen's birthplace (which is where it gets the name from), this is a very fancy affair in impeccably designed surroundings from Russell Sage studios. We've already tried it out and you can expect wonderful seafood (the Fish Triptych, served in three different ways, is a must), great cocktails and proper old-school great service.
Opening: 16 September 2025
Lagana
Shoreditch - 73 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3HU
The reinvention of what was Pachamama is now complete with the last Pachamama restaurant reborn as the Greek-influenced Lagana. The group has had big successes with its recent openings like Bottarga and Nina, and that looks set to continue here. It's a little different from their recent openings, however, taking much more of a casual approach and focusing firmly on Greek cuisine rather than a general Mediterranean approach. Dishes are led by the puffed Lagana flatbread along with courgette tempura, loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) and more.
Opening: 15 September 2025
Richoux
Fitzrovia - 14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS
In its former life, Richoux first closed their cafes back in 2021 before making a brief comeback in Piccadilly. Now under new management, they're planning big things, with this planned as the first in a series of openings (Tower Bridge is coming soon). The group is going back to its classic Parisian cafe influences, opening in the space that was recently Pizzeria Mozza. The menu features classic French dishes like truffle croque monsieur, escargot, boeuf bourguignon and more. We also like the idea of the "canapé" menu where you can get five canapés for under £20 - perfect for a cocktail and a few snacks. The desserts and pastries will also be a big deal here.
Opening date: 15 September 2025
Kudu
Marylebone - 7 Moxon Street, London W1U 4EP
A hit in Peckham, spread out over multiple restaurants, Kudu is taking a big step, bringing all their spaces together under one roof in Marylebone. If you've been to their previous restaurants, we imagine you'll feel right at home here (we'd imagine that many of the same staff will come across). The food remains a combination of European and South African influences, with signatures like the Kudu bread making an appearance at the new location. But we're probably most excited about the Durban Pinapple - a dessert shared by three people, featuring cardamom brûlée, spiced pineapple, Kudu kit kat, coconut soft serve and brandy canelé.
Opening date: 16 September 2025
Michael Caines at The Stafford
St James - 16-18 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NJ
Michael Caines has won Michelin stars in his restaurants outside of London, but this is actually the first time he's opened a restaurant in the capital. The chef is taking over the food at The Stafford hotel in St James, with fine-dining modern European cuisine the order of the day. There's a big emphasis on British produce here and you'll also see some of Caines' signature dishes from Lympstone Manor appearing on the menu here, like his duck liver terrine and his chocolate orange confit mousse.
Opening date: 17 September 2025
Carbone
Mayfair - 30 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6AN
What's likely to be one of autumn's biggest restaurant openings is almost something like an open secret just a few days before the restaurant opens its doors. But yes, New York's Carbone really is opening in London this week. It's part of the old US Embassy revamp, but also not actually part of the Chancery Rosewood - it's a standalone opening. Inside, expect a huge, grand dining room, proper New York-style service under the guidance of "captains" and big servings of New York Italian food (as well as a few extras just for London). We also have to give them props for the most outlandish, high-budget video for the opening of a London restaurant that we've ever seen.
Opening date: 17 September 2025
This week's events
15 September (Bermondsey) - José Pizarro is having a one-night-only dinner at Lolo, in collaboration with Spain’s iconic Ibérico Jamón producer, Cinco Jotas.
15-20 September - Kitty Fisher's is celebrating its 10th birthday with a week of partying including bringing back some of their favourite dishes of the last decade.
17 September (St James) - Ramael Scully of Scully St James is teaming up with forager Flavour Fred for Wild Flavours: A Foraged & Fermented Dinner – a one-off dinner celebrating sustainability. The four-course tasting menu is £75 which includes a homemade infusion on arrival.
17 September (Covent Garden) - For one night only, Angela Hartnett and Nick Grimshaw are bringing their podcast Dish from Waitrose to the stage at the Royal Opera House for a live show. Tickets start at £25.
18 September (Barnes) - Jack Stein is teaming up with acclaimed Irish chef (and new MasterChef host) Anna Haugh, for the last chapter of his 2025 Seafood Odyssey Series. It'll be a five-course feast inspired by the mythical tales of Ireland and the bountiful flavours of the Cornish coast.
18 September - Mindful wine brand 6Percent are teaming up with Padel Box in Bermondsey for an evening of sport and socialising. Tickets are £28 for two hours of padel accompanied with two glasses of wine. Book on the Playtomic app.
19 September - Award-winning Irish bar Paladar from Cork is taking over the bar at Boundary Shoreditch for one night with a cocktail menu using Two Shores Rum.
19 September - For one night only, Singburi are bringing together with other top London Thai spots for an evening of amazing food and drinks. Joining the fun on their terrace are Smoking Goat, som saa, and Kin + Deum. It's a first-come, first-served affair; with profits from the food sold donated to Magic Breakfast. From 6pm.
19-21 September - Chef Tom Booton (ex-Dorchester Grill) is teaming up with the OXO Tower Restaurant for a three-day pop-up. Expect a very British menu in a landmark London setting including tableside beef tartare and a Baked Waterloo cheese with truffle honey.
21 September (Brick Lane) - The Brick Lane Curry Festival is back after nine years away. There will be street stalls at each of the participating restaurants, including specialty dishes and pop-up cooking demonstrations as well as festival-themed street art and live graffiti presentations. It's free to attend.
Here's what opened last week:
Punk Royale (Mayfair) - The "brutal bistro" that's extremely full-on and a no-phone zone.
Nela (Bayswater) - A live-fire restaurant from Amsterdam that's the first opening at The Whiteley.
The Elizabeth (Belgravia) - Anthony Demetre is in charge of the menu at this Belgravia bistro.
ADOH! (Covent Garden) - The Kolamba team open a fast-casual space.
Aram (Temple) - Imad Alarnab (of Imad's Syrian Kitchen) opens in Somerset House.
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